Faq

General information
What is the general philosophy of the sites?
Why the name "Camptocamp.com" ?
How were the Camptocamp sites developed ?
How can I become a member of the camptocamp sites?
I lost my username and/or my password. What should I do?
Is information on the site verified and checked?
Who are the moderators?
How can I participate on the site?

guide-falaise
How can I add the description of an area or climbing sector?
How can I modify an area or sector description ?
Why don't my modifications to an area or sector appear in the cliff guide
I would like to give info concerning a precise route or a given day. How do I do this?
What rating systems are used on the camptocamp sites?

Album
How can I upload a photograph in the browser?
How can I link a photo to a sector or an area?
Why aren't my photos displayed on the site?

Forums
What are the forums for ?
How can I add a URL to a forum message or layout my text?

Other
How can I present myself as a mountain professional?
How can I present a mountain training course or a climbing competition that I am organising?
How can I present a paper topo?
How can I link a topo to a page of the Cliff Guide?
How can I propose an article?
Is it possible to modify an article?
How can I propose a current event ?

General information

What is the general philosophy of the sites?
Camptocamp sites are sharing sites more than anything else. We provide the technological platform, not the contents.

This at least in theory; in practice, the need for maintaining coherence in the available information (and for avoiding certain blunders) led us to a system of partial moderation of contributions, except for the discussion forums.

Our goal is to offer maximum availability of the services for all interested parties, whatever the their technological environment and computer skills. For this reason we have limited the use of IT "gadgets" and given priority to a straightforward page design.

Lastly, camptocamp sites are not changed quickly. We want to ensure total compatibility of possible new functionalities with the old ones; this requires time, especially since we don't spend money on these developments, so we often have to give the priority to other remunerated projects.
Of course, if organisations, companies or even individuals see a possibility of collaborating with us to add services or functionalities to our sites, those would be likely to evolve more quickly... Back

Why the name "Camptocamp.com" ?
The "com" reflects the time when the company was founded, and the insane time of the Internet bubble. At that time, the list of available obvious and short domain names was not very long. We looked for a name with the following characteristics:
- connected to the mountains in general
- nonrepresentative of a particular activity. skirando.com was perfect in its field, but it wouldn't work for a general site.
- not linguistically stereotyped, since we aimed at a European and not only French extension.

The result of lengthy thinking was "Camptocamp". The word refers to the "camp" concept: a place for preparing races and other expeditions, a crossing point for the altitude camps, but especially a place where one finds oneself, a friendly place with shelter of for bad weather, a penchant for dialogue, sharing and reflection. Back

How were the Camptocamp sites developed ?

• Background
  Lausanne has a considerable advantage: you can study there without being far away from the mountains. It is not rare to find people there who combine the passion of ski touring with a love of technology (or vice versa). In the years 1994-1995, some individuals answering this definition gathered in the physics section of EPFL. At that time, way before WWW, the ambitions of these pioneers, including Stéphane Bolognini and, even earlier, Claude Philipona, remain limited. They started to manage an e-mail mailing list of the Swiss avalanche bulletin. For two or three winters, the exchange of information on ski outings was done by e-mall, even by telephone.



• Version 1 - 1997
  While skiing was practiced in French-speaking Switzerland, information technology, and on line techniques in particular made progress. In autumn 1997, a new version of FileMaker was used to disseminate information on the debuting Web. Claude Philipona jumped on the bandwagon and created the first version of skirando.ch : an interactive FileMaker database running on a Macintosh connected semi-clandestinely to the network of EPFL. In spite of its rustic sides and certain slowness (for example, user management was done by hand), this site became quickly popular on the Lausanne campus, then in French-speaking Switzerland, before the French discovered it. All level skiers and mountaineers, including some walking mountain encyclopaedias like Julien Vallet, started to present their outings.



• Version 2 -1999
  With success the need to render the site more professional was felt. In 1998, Marc Fournier started by adding the first skirando forums. Thereafter, he and Claude Philipona undertook a complete makeover of the site based on longer-lasting more solid technologies. In 1999, the new version, using MySQL and php, was put on line on a Linux server, still hosted on EPFL.



• Version 3 -2001
  Version 3 of skirando.ch, based on the same technologies, was put on line in March 2001. The data base was reorganised to acquire its current form.



• Creation of Escalade OnLine 2000-2001
  Completely on their own, two French climbers found a lack in the sites devoted to rock climbing. By combining their skills, Arnaud Saint Léger and David Jonglez put the first version of escalade.online.fr. on line in March 2000. It acts as a directory of links to technical data sheets for routes. Articles were added quickly, then a newsletter. In January 2001, the two launched themselves into the adventure of the marketing of their site by founding the OhCEO company in Chambéry.



• Founding of Camptocamp SA
  In these years of the famous Internet speculation, a database of the size skirando did not fail to draw the attention of several companies. Rather than to accept one of these offers, Claude and Marc, with Luc Maurer's collaboration for the financial side, decided to found a public company to develop their work and, if possible, by living. Camptocamp SA thus saw the day 1 August 2001 in Lausanne.



• Uniting the two
  At the same time, contacts were made between the climbers of Chambéry and the skiers of Lausanne, and many joint efforts appeared possible. Together the two companies created the alpinisme site, modelled after skirando, and modified the existing escalade site to make it more compatible with its sister sites.



• Current situation
  It quickly appeared that the sites themselves could not bring in enough money to ensure their development. Fortunately, Camptocamp and OhCEO found other more profitable business niches. One is the maintenance of information technology systems, another dynamic Web applications in the field of the geomatics (MapServer, CartoWeb), and a third managing multilingual interactive contents (E-content project). Thanks to the income generated from these activities, Camptocamp is able to continue to maintain and develop the interactive sites devoted to the mountains.

How can I become a member of the camptocamp sites?
When you click on Member area, you will see a request for identification. If you are not registered yet, a link is available for registering. Then fill in the registration form.
The registration is free and is valid for the three sites (alpinisme, skirando and escalade). The information provided at the time of registration will not be transmitted to third parties Back

I lost my username and/or my password. What should I do?
Click on Member area. A link gives you the possibility of receiving this information by e-mail. Back

Is information on the site verified and checked?
Camptocamp cannot make a detailed check of all the information in the cliff guide. However, the site is moderated according to the following procedures:

• The new areas or sectors are immediately put on line, but they are checked in the following days by a moderator who can make modifications (post-moderation).


• The modifications suggested for existing areas or sectors are evaluated before they are put on line (pre-moderation), to make sure that they are an improvement over the original descriptions.


• Photographs are checked before being put on line.

Who are the moderators?
Moderators are people who in general know climbing very well and one or more regions. They are particularly involved with examining new sectors and modification proposals for the sectors, to ensure the coherence of the database and the quality of the information. They also give the green light to the publication of suggested photographs.

We are always looking for new moderators, to better distribute the workload. If you are able to fill this role for a region and willing to donate a little of your time to this service, we would like to have you. Please contact the webmaster. Back

How can I participate on the site?
The site escalade.camptocamp.com exists for the community of the climbers, but also because of this community. There are several ways of taking part in this site:

• As a contributor : After you register as a member, share your knowledge of climbing areas.


• As a moderator : Read the very important role of these information quality controllers


• As a developer : If you have skills in Web development (php, MySQL, html...), motivation and ideas, contact the webmaster.


• As a translator : we need bilingual individuals to help us update the site interface and multilingual help. This involves translating strings in a timely manner. In addition, if you are interested in translating the site interface and help in a language not yet available, let us know.


• As a donator: Even if camptocamp.com sites have been developed and are still being developed by volunteers, their maintenance requires financial means. access to passing band, purchase and maintenance of servers... We invite site users to make a donation which would make it easier to face our overhead. To support us, click here
.

guide-falaise

How can I add the description of an area or climbing sector?
You must be a member of the camptocamp sites to add information to the cliff guide.

If you are, go to the Cliff guide and click on Add. You will then be guided step by step. Back

How can I modify an area or sector description ?
The links Modify area and Modify sector in the additional information (bottom of the page) can be used to suggest modifications of you think the information is incomplete or incorrect.
However, these modifications are subjected to manual moderation: they are checked to make sure they are an improvement over the original version. This step generally takes a few days, before your modifications are put on line. Back

Why don't my modifications to an area or sector appear in the cliff guide
There are two possible reasons:
- The moderator has not yet handled you modification suggestion. Modifications are first checked to make sure they really are an improvement over the original version. This step takes a few days.
- After this time, the moderator decided that your modifications did not make notable improvements over the original version. Back

I would like to give info concerning a precise route or a given day. How do I do this?
Use the space "Your comments" on the bottom of the page of the specific sector. This is the right place to speak about your personal achievements and to freely add comments.
It also is the place where you can give a URL to a page of your personal site. Back

What rating systems are used on the camptocamp sites?
The page ratings summarises everything you need to know on this inexhaustible subject to use our topos-guides. Back

Album

How can I upload a photograph in the browser?
First, you must be registered as a member of the camptocamp sites.

If you are, go in the Member area, click on New image and follow the instructions. Your photograph must meet certain technical criteria.
The publication of the photographs is subjected to manual moderation, which makes it possible to reject technically insufficient or obviously moved images. In general, your photograph will be on line and visible to everyone in 24 to 48 hours.

You can display and manage (modify info, delete) your photographs at any time by going to the Member area and clicking on Your images. Moreover, each photograph of the browser can be linked to a sector or an area. Back

How can I link a photo to a sector or an area?
You have the possibility of linking your photographs a sector or an area.

To do this, first you need to enter your photographs in the browser. Then open the specific area or sector page in the Cliff guide. The Link to my photos link is in the additional information at the bottom of the page.

Warning, if you have entered your photos, please not that they will not be displayed on the sector or area page until they have been approved by the moderators, which is generally within 24 to 48 h after they are entered. Back

Why aren't my photos displayed on the site?
It is only a question of being patient, except in rare cases. The publication of the photographs is subjected to manual moderation, which makes it possible to reject technically insufficient or obviously moved images. In general, your photographs will be on line and visible to everyone within 24 to 48 hours. Back

Forums

What are the forums for ?
The discussion forums are a space for freedom. Everyone can express themselves, without having to be registered and thus without identification. They are organised by topics.
Some minimal rules of common sense and of courtesy are used for the discussions on the forums. They are described in the forum rules. Back

How can I add a URL to a forum message or layout my text?
The forum is able to understand simple HTML. You can use the tags <b>, <i>, <ul>, <ol>, <li> to make your text bold or in italics or to create lists. PLEASE, do not try to enter tables.
There are two methods for entering links:

• Directly typing the complete address E.g. http://escalade.camptocamp.com.
  the text will appear as a link: http://escalade.camptocamp.com


• Use the tags <a>. E.g. <a href=";http://escalade.camptocamp.com"> cliquez-moi</a>.
  "click here" will appear as a link to the site: click here

Other

How can I present myself as a mountain professional?
If you are guide, mountain leader or mountain sport instructor, you can present yourself with text and an image on the site.
This service is free, but first you have to be registered as a member of the camptocamp sites. Then go to Directories, then Professionals, and click on Add.

Fill in the proposed fields. You can present yourself, provide all your information, a link to your personal site and enter an image.

You can always modify your presentation page. Back

How can I present a mountain training course or a climbing competition that I am organising?
If you want to present a training course that you are organising or announce a climbing competition or any other related event, it is easy (and free).
First you have to be registered as a member of the camptocamp sites. Then go to Services, then Training courses or Diary, and click on Add.

Fill in the proposed fields. You can present your event, to give the complete information, a link to your personal site and enter an image.

You can always modify your presentation page later. Back

How can I present a paper topo?
First you have to be registered as a member of the camptocamp sites.
Then go to Directory then Topos, and click on Add.

Fill in the proposed fields. You can present it, give the complete information, a link to your personal site and enter the image of the cover.

The most important thing is that you can link this topo presentation to the pages of the corresponding Cliff Guide.

You can always modify your presentation page. Back

How can I link a topo to a page of the Cliff Guide?
You can link a topo to a page of the Cliff Guide.

Go to the Cliff guide and open the specific area or sector page. The Link to a topo link is in the additional information at the bottom of the page. Back

How can I propose an article?
The management of the articles does not allow any collaborative writing of the contents. Nevertheless, if you wish to propose a new article and write it, contact the webmaster. Back

Is it possible to modify an article?
The community cannot directly modify articles. If you wish to make corrections or add information, contact the webmaster. Back

How can I propose a current event ?
The community does not directly write the current events.
If you wish to add a current event, send your text and some photos to the webmaster.
The text must to be clear and relatively short. It must obviously be of interest to the site users. Back